Flow bean



Batented June 6, 1950 omi-En s'iA'rEs PATENT, oFPlca Richard A.vlvLegNneacn,

f Y 1 Y This invention relates to means for cutting down, or beaningback, or substantially regulating the flow of uids from oil wells anddeals more particularly with ow control devices known as flow beans. Anobject or my invention is to provide a ow bean which is simple, sturdy,eilicient and which is selective to vary the desired conditions ot ilow.

My invention deals with flow beans such as are commonly connected toeither side of the cross of the "Christmas tree of a well producinsunder high pressure conditions as distinguished from bottom hole iiowbeans. Especially in oil wellsI the tluid passing upwardly in the welltubing or 'casing into the Christmas tree and out through the ilow beansto storage, irequently carries a high proportion of sand and otherabrasive particles. Conventional flow beans are designed on the needlevalve principle in which a needle isadjustably positioned in a Venturitube to vary the ow through the bean. The abrasive wearing action of thesand in the iluid and of the uid itself which is under high pressure,deleteriously aects both the needle and the tube of conventional flowbeans resulting in frequent repairs and replacement of the aiected partsand a consequent expense and reduction in the production of the well.Another conventional now bean is the positive choke type which, inaddition to being non-adjustable, also loses efnciency because of weardue to abrasion.

Another object of my invention is to combine the best features ofadjustable iiow beans and positive choke flow beans and to provide a owbean with a positive, yet selective, restriction to the ilow of iiuidstherethrough, according to production or proration requirements undervarying conditions of well pressure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ilow bean oi novelconstruction and designed to resist abrasive wear to a high degree.

Another object .of my invention is to provide a ilow bean in which`the`iluid passing therethrough enters the body of the bean at a relaailow bean of the positive restriction type embodying means forselectively positioning one of 11 Claims. (CL 251-86) various sizes ofrestricting orices in the line of flow of the flow bean.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a flow bean havingmeans for completely shutting o the ilow therethrough and which can befully opened to flow for various purposes and for the particular purposeof blowing-out and ridding the iiow bean body of sand and otheraccumulations.

yThe various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typicalpreferred form and application of the invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flow bean embodying apreferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, partly broken;

Fig. 3` is a cross sectional view of selective means for regulating theflow of :fluid through the ilow bean, the view being taken on the line3-3 of Fig. 1. y I

In the embodiment of the invention which I have illustrated, the ilowline from the well and particularly the cross of a Christmas tree, isshown as a tube or pipe I0. The pipe I0 is connected to the ilow beanhousing II, in the chamber I2 of which I have shown selector means I3for controlling or regulating the flow of uid from the pipe I0 throughthe chamber I2 and out through a pipe I4 connected to the housing II ata right angle to the pipe I0. I have shown the flow bean as furthercomprising a valve and seat I5 associated with the selector means I3 andlocated to control flow from the chamber I2 through the outlet pipe I4,manual means I6 for operating the selector means I3, and visual means I1for indicating the selected position of said selector means I3.

The housing Il which I provide, may comprise a tubular body 20 in whichthe chamber I2 is formed as a substantially cylindrical openended recesshaving an end wall I9 and a plate 2| serving as a closure for thechamber I2. I secure the body 20 and plate 2| together by means of studs22 on a circular flange 23 of the body and nuts'24 in the ends of saidstuds which project through aligned holes 25 in the plate 2l. I show thebody 2U as a suitable casting having a radial boss 26 internally,threaded at 21 for connection with the pipe I0, and an axial boss 28internally threaded at 21 for connection with the pipe I0, and an axialvboss 28 internally threaded at 29 for connection with the pipe I4.

I prefer to weld the end of the .bosses 28 and 28 as at 30 to therespective pipes I0 and I4 to obtain a leak-proof uid pressure receptiveassembly having an inlet passage 3|, an outlet flow passage 32 at rightangles thereto, and a connecting chamber l2, said passage 3| comprisingthe longitudinal bore of the pipe I and the passage 32 comprising thelongitudinal bore of the pipe I4 and an aligned opening 32l in the bodywall I9. I show'the plate 2| as also comprising a casting and I providesaid plate with a central outer boss 33 which extends in a directionopposite to the pipe I4. I provide the plate 2| with a central hole 34for passage therethrough ofl a longitudinally disposed shaft 35connecting the selector means I3 within the chamber I2 and the manualmeans I8 outside the housing II. Leakage between the plate 2| and theshaft 35 is prevented by a stuffing box 36 which I show as packing 31around the shaft 35 and a gland 38 threadedly engaged with an internalpacking seat 39 in the boss 33. I prefer to provide a sealing gasket 40between the outer face of the ange 23 of the body 2II and the relatedface of the plate 2| whereby both said gasket 40 and the shaft packing31 effectively seal the chamber I2 against leakage. The arrangement ofthe parts which I have described. provides for a relative longitudinaloffset between the center of the pipe I4 and the axis of the shaft 35.Accordingly. the body casting 20 has the boss 28 arranged substantiallycentrally thereof, and the ange 23 eccentrically in a direction awayfrom the body boss 26.

The selector means I3 and the valve and seat means I are associated bothphysically and functionally. I provide a valve seat ring 4I in the bodyopening 32'l and show said seat as threadedly connected at 42. Said seat4| comprises a flanged ring having an axial passage 43 aligned with thepassages 32 and 32EL and having direct communication through an angledvalve seat 44 with the chamber I2. I show a valve disc 45 having abeveled circular face 46 engaged with the seat 44 and having disccentering fins 41 guided in the passage 43 of the valve seat ring 4I. Ifurther provide the disc 45 with a central axial hole 41a which, whilerelatively large, is smaller in area than the area of the inlet passage3I. I connect the disc 46 to a reduced end 48 of the shaft 35 whichpasses through an eccentric hole 49 in said disc and secure said disc onthe shaft by a nut 50.

The selector means I3 which I provide comprises an orifice plate 5Ihaving a central polygonal axial hole 5| for a similarly shaped portion52 of the shaft 35. The plate 6| is mounted contiguously with the disc45 and has a number of orifices 53, 54, 55, 56 and 51, graduated in sizefrom the largest orice 53 to the smallest orifice 51, which are arrangedfor selective alignment with the axial hole 41 of the valve seat ring45. The largest orifice 53 may be of any desired size, but at most nolarger than the hole 41, I have shown said largest orifice somewhatsmaller than th'e hole 41S. A shutoff part 58 on the plate 5I isprovided between the orices 53 and 51. From the foregoing it can be seenthat the orifice plate 5| will rotate bodily with the shaft 35 and thatsaid shaft, by means of the pin and hole bearing 48 and 49, is journaledin the disc 45 which is seated inthe ring 4I. Because said ring 4| andthe disc 45 are eccentric with respect to the plate 5| and the shaft 35,there is no tendency to cause said disc 45 to rotate when the- 4 shaft35 is rotated. Accordingly, the plate 5I ro tates with relation to thedisc 45 and by such rotation the orices 53 to 51. inclusive, can beselectively positioned in alignment with the disc hole 41.

The manual means I6 is shown as comprising a handwheel 60 secured to theshaft 35. By means of said handwheel, the desired aligned selection ofthe hole 41* with the holes 53 to 51 can be obtained. Said handwheel 60also serves as means whereby an endwise pull can be exerted on the shaft35 for the purpose of longitudinally separating the faces 44 and 48 ofthe ring 4I and the disc 45, respectively. I provide means formaintaining engagement of the faces 44 and 46 and for this purpose Iprovidea coil spring 6| around the shaft 35 and arranged betweenabutments aiforded by the plate 5| and the plate 2|. In order to preventcomplete disassociation of the disc fins 41 and the passage 43, Iprovide a suitable shoulder 62 on the shaft 35 which cooperates with theplate 2| to limit the endwise movement of the shaft to at all timesretain engagement of said disc flns 41 and said passage 43.

The visual means I1 maybe variously made. I have shown an index pointer53 carried by the shaft 35 between the gland 38 and the handwheel andmounted to rotate with said shaft and a plurality of suitable radiallyarranged index marks 64 or the like, on the outer flat face of the plate2| associated with the index pointer 63 for visual indication of theselected alignment between the hole 41* and the orifices 53 to 51.

Since pressure varies during the life of a well and from well to well,the flow bean which I have provided will meet changing conditions withthe greatest ease. The ow through the bean can be kept athits greatestemciency by suitable and quick alignment of one of the orifices 53 to 51with the hole 41* so that varying uid supply from the inlet ow passage3| can be regulated to obtain a uniform or any desired flow in theoutlet passage 32. Further, when the uid enters the chamber I2 from theinlet passage 3| it seeks exit through the ow aligned orifice in theplate 5|. A slightly turbulent and sluggish flow in the chamber I2 iscreated, reducing the abra.- sive effect of the sands and otherparticles upon the surfaces of the orice plate 5| and the alignedorifice. Longer useful life of this part is, therefore, assured. Theorifice plate functions as a positive restriction which has theadditional property of being selective as to size. Long operation maycause the chamber I2 to fill up and become sand clogged. This conditioncan be quickly remedied by a pull on the handwheel 60 to open thepassage 41* directly to the chamber I2. The ilow from the inlet passage3| to the outlet passage 32 now being substantially unrestricted, theuidwill wash through the chamber I2 at an unhindered flow rate and clearthe same of sand accumulations. Release of the handle 60 restores theflow bean to desired and normal operation. Shutoif of the ow bean' isquickly obtained by aligning the orifice plate part 58 with the outletpassage and, since the disc 45 and the plate 5| and the seat ring 4I arearranged in pressure-closed relation, certain shutoff is obtained.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specicdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variationsor modifications that may appear 8 to those skilled in the art and failwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

-1. A flow controlling device of the character described including. ahousing having' inlet and outlet passages, aseathin the-housingwithanopening concentric with and passing flow to the outlet passagef a discresting on the seat and having a flow opening concentric with theopening in the seatl and communicating therewith, an oriilce plateseatedon thefdisc and rotatable about an axis laterally spaced from thatof the outlet passage and having aplurality of ilow controlling orificesto be positioned'one at a time in register lwith the flow opening of thedisc, operating means for rotating the plate from the exterior of thehousing, and means coupling the disc and plate for removal from thehousing as a unit.

2. A flow controlling device cf the character described including, ahousing having inlet and arcuate series of flow controlling aperturesconcentric with the axis of the disc, the apertures beingconcentricallyregistrable, one at a time with the flow opening, andmeans operable to rotate the plate from the exterior of the housing.

3. A flow controlling device" of the character described including, ahousing having inlet and outlet passages, an annular seat in the housingconcentric with the outlet passage, a disc concentric with'and restingon the seat and having a flow opening therethrough, an orifice platewith a curved series of flow controlling apertures, and means pivotallyconnecting the plate 4and disc on an axis concentric with the series ofapertures and eccentric to the axis of the disc for rotation of theplate to register the apertures with the opening one at a time.

4. A flow controlling device of the character described including, a'housing having inlet and outlet passages, an annular seat in the housingconcentric with the outlet passage, a disc concentric with and restingon the seat and having a ilow opening therethrough, an orice plate witha curved series of ilow controlling apertures, and means pivotallyconnecting the plate and disc on an axis concentric with the series ofapertures and eccentric to the axis of the disc for rotation of theplate to register the apertures with the opening one at a timeincluding, a shaft projecting into the housing and having drivingengagement with the plate and rotatably supporting the disc adjacent theplate.

5. A flow controlling device of the character described including, ahousing having inlet and outlet passages, an annular seat in the housingconcentric with the outlet passage, a disc concentric with and restingon the seat and having a flow opening therethrough, means guiding thedisc concentric with the seat, an orifice plate with a curved series offlow controlling apertures, and means pivotally connecting the plate anddisc on an axis concentric with the series of apertures and eccentric tothe axis of the disc for rotation of the plate to register the apertureswith the opening one at a time.

6. A flow controlling device of the character described including, ahousing having inlet and eccentric to the outlet passage, a memberseated in the housing with an opening communicating with the outletpassage, and a plate mounted concentric on the inner end portion of theshaft to be rotated thereby on an axis eccentricl to the opening, theinner end portion of the shaft being in the housing with an openingcommunicating with the outlet passage, a plate mounted concentric on theinner end portion oi the shaft to be rotated thereby on an axiseccentric to the opening, the inner end portion of the shaft beingrotatably engaged with the said member with said member forming the solesupport for the said portion of the shaft, and means retaining the saidmember on said portion of the shaft to be in coupled engagement with theplate.

8. A flow controlling device of the character described including, ahousing having'inlet and outlet passages, an annular seat ring threadedinto the housing concentric with the outlet pas; sage, a disc concentricwith and resting on the seat and having a flow opening therethrough, anorice plate with a curved series of flow controlling apertures, andmeans pivotally connecting the plate and disc on an axis concentric withthe series of apertures and eccentric vto the axis of the disc forrotation of the plate to register the apertures with the opening one ata time.

9. A ilow controlling device of the character described including, ahousing having inlet and outlet passages, an annular seat ring threadedinto the housing concentric with the outlet passage, a disc concentricwith and resting on the seat and having a flow opening therethrough,means guiding the disc concentric with the seat, an orice plate with acurved series of ow controlling apertures, and means pivotallyconnecting the plate and disc on an axis concentric with the series of'apertures and eccentric to the axis of the disc for rotation of theplate to register tne apertures with the opening one at a time.

1U. A flow controlling device of the character described including, ahousing having inlet and outlet passages and an access opening providedwith a removable closure, a member seated in the housing and normallystationary therein and having an opening communicating with the outletpassage, a multiple apertured plate in the housing seated on said memberand shiitable relative thereto to control flow to the outlet passage,and a single means operating the plate within the housing and couplingthe plate and said member as a unit for free relative rotation and forsimultaneous removal lfrom they housing through the access opening.

11. A ilow controlling device of the character described including, ahousing having inlet and outlet passages and an access opening providedwith a removable closure, a seat ring threaded in the housing concentricwith' the outlet passage, a disc seated on the ring and having anopening communicating with the outlet passage, means guiding the disccentrally of the ring, a. shaft entering the housing through the closureeccentric to the outlet passage and having its inner end rotatablyengaged with the disc, means retaining the disc on the shaft, vand aplate carried by the shaft to rotate therewith and located to seat onthe disc and'having a series of flow 7 9,610,859 controlling aperturesconcentric with the shaft Number and resistrable with the opening in thedisc on 1.378.217 at l. time. 1,496,695 RICHARD A. WERTB. 1,694,694 51,751,591 REFERENCES CITED 1,911,044 The following references are ofrecord ln tho 13361413 111e of this patent: 2,093,692 UNITED STATESPAm'rs n 2,115,241

Number Nams Date 562,049 'rirmann Juno 16, 1890 Number 1,106,002Schlemmer Aus. 4, 1914 135.925

1,360,505 Doble N01. 30, 1920 Nuno Dato Cllord May 17, 1921 RelnhardtMar. 11, 1924 Walker Deo. 11, 1929 McCloskey Mnr. 25, 1930 Thrasher Mu23, 1933 'rnbb sept. 19, 1933 Daniels Sept. 21, 193'? Bollinger Apr. 28,1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Austria. of 1938

